Coil feeding and cutting mechanism



F. H. SLEEPER AND W. H. BLOUNT.-

COIL FEEDING AND CUTTING MECHANISM.

APPLICA'HON FILED MAR. 10. 1917.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

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V I 6'3 i if!" 8 f 2 zizffovney UNITED STATES PAT fol-Pica.

FRANK H. SLEEPER AND WILLIAM H. BLOUNT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNORS TO SLEEPER & HARTLEY A. CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

con. FEEDING AND CUTTING INQ, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS,

MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters latent. P t t d 3 192() Application filed March 10, 1917. Serial No. 158,901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK H. SLEEPER, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada and WILLIAM H. BLOUNT, a citizen of the Iinited States, both residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester andCommonwealth of Massachusetts,'have invented a new and useful lgilprovement in a Coil Feeding and Cutting echanism, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. 1 1

The present invention relates to a coil feeding and cutting mechanism, more especially as regards a mechanism for automatically producing spring washers, or the like, by the severance of successive short len ths from a spirally wound coil of metal. T e invention resides in the provision of a coil cutting mechanism of novel form, the latter acting in conjunction with a coil feeding mechanism adapted to advance the coil longitudinally a predetermined distance between each successive operation of the cutting mechanism; after each advancement the coil cutting mechanism operates to sever a predetermined length of the spirally disposed material from the end of the coil, such ailength, for the production of spring washers,being ordinarilya single convolution or turn of the coil, but obviously, our invention is not limited in this respect.

The mechanism by which the above and other objects are attained is fully set forth in the following description, reference being had in this connection to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front View of a machine constructed in accordance with our invention.

. Fig. 2 is a side view, on a larger scale, than Fig. 1, illustrating the novel and essential parts of the machines Fig. 3 is a View, partly in lon itudinal section, of the parts illustrated in ig. 2, showing said parts in a different position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional .view on the line 4-4 of ig. 2,. and

Fig. 5 is a fra mentary sectional'view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a "spring washer, of the type produced by the machine.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different fi ures.

disposed on a support 1, the latter carrying a base or table 2 from which rises the spaced standards 3, 3 constituting the stationar framework of the machine. The, standar s 3, 3 at their upper ends provide bearings 4, 4 for a driving shaft 5, the latter carrying a belt pulley 6 for the rotation of the shaft from a suitable source of power, not, shown. The shaft 5 has a crank or eccentric 7 which,

through a connecting rod 8, imparts a reciprocating movement to a cross-head 9, the connecting rod and cross-head being pivotally connected by a pin 10, in the usual manner. The cross-head 9 is provided with extensions 11 which cooperate with guide-ways 12, carried by the standards 3 to constrain the reci rocation of the cross-head in a vertical patli.

Below the reciprocating cross-head 9, the table or base 2 supports the coil feeding and cutting mechanisms of the machine,' which are actuated by the movement of the crosshead, in themanner hereinafter'described. The coil to be cutis held and guided in a bushin 13 of suitable size, it being understood t at a plurality of such bushings are furnish-ed in different sizes, to accommodate the machine to coils of different diameters. The bushing 13 is received in a suitably formed guiding block 14, arising-from the base 2, the latter having pivoted thereto at 15 a bent lever 16, whose free end projects downwardly through a slot 17 in bushing 13, to lie in-contact with the coil held in said bushing. Springs 18, 18 attached to a pin 19, carried by said lever 16, operate to yleldingly hold the free end of said lever against the surface of the coil, the lever thereby act-- ing as a friction device to steady the coil during the feeding and cutting thereof.

The guiding block 14' and bushing 13 have registering longitudinal slots 20 and 21, respectively, on opposite sides thereof, for the movement of coil advancing fingers 22, 22, the latter being preferably of spring material, adapted to project slightly past the outer surfaceof the coil in en aging a convolution thereof, asshown in i 4, to advance the coil toward the right 1n said figure, and being shaped at their ends to spring outwardly, and slide on'the surface of the coil, when the aremoved to the left in said figure. The ngers 22 are disposed at the proper angle to eflect this result, as shown in Fig. 4, the lever 16 yielding sufiiciently to allow the movement of the coil to the right, Figs. 3 and 4, by means ofsaid hngers, but adapted to resist any tendency .move in the opposite direction when said fingers are caused to scrape or slide backwardly over the surface of the 0011- The fingers 22 are adjustably held by set screws 23 at the ends of arms 24, 24 of a swlnging yoke 25, which is hung from a' transverse piy'otal shaft 26 journaled in bearings 27, 27 on the stationary standards 3, 3.

Onearm 24 of said yoke has attached thereto a plate 28, by means of bolts 29 and 30, connecting said arm and plate and passing through curved slots 31, 31 of the latter, to permit of a slight adjustment of said plate, with respect, to arm 24, for the purpose hereinafter described. Plate 28 extends rearwardly from the yoke-25, so as to lie alongside of the reciprocating cross-head 9, the edge of the latter carrying a pin or stud 32 which is received within a substantially vertical slot 33 of plate 28. The length of slot 33 is approximately the length of the stroke of cross-head 9, and at its upper end said slot is curved forwardly, as at 34, so that the pin 32, when movin upwardly, will, near the end of its u war movement, draw the plate 28 inwar 1y, thus'rocking the yoke 25 about its pivot 26. The adjust-.

ment afforded by slots 31, 31, above described, permits the throw of yoke 24 to be varied, as desired, to suit different sizes of coils. In this fashion the fingers 22, carried by said yoke, are caused to move to the right, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, to advance the coil a predetermined distance, and immediately thereafter the pin 32,"reversing' its movement, rocks the yoke 25 to the left, the fingers 22 then passing, inoperatively, backward over the surface of the 'coil, as hereinbefore described, said feeding mechanism bein retained in this retracted position during 51c continued descent of pin 32 throughout the vertical portion of slot 33, as shown in Fig. 3.

The cross-head 9, continuing its downward movement after the retraction of feeding fingers 22, in the manner above described, thereupon actuates a coil cutting mechanism, to sever from the end of the coil the predetermined length of material which has just previously been pushed forward "by the feeding mechanism. The cutting mechanism consists ,of a stationary cutter 35, adjustably supported in a cutaway portion 36- of the base 2- by means of a clamp 37 and an adjustin screw 38, the cutting edge orcorner of said cutter bein disposed below the coil and in'contact wit the convolutions thereof as they are successively advanced b the feeding mechanism, as shown in Flgs. 3 and 5. For coiiperation with the cutter 35, we provide amovable cutting edge 39, the same being formed by ting edge of cutter 35.

a cylindrical arbor 40, which is cut away at its end, as shown in F i' 4, substantlally on a diameter thereof in me with the cut- The arbor 40 is adapted to be inserted within the coil, and in such position to be forcibly swung downwardly, to sever the coil by coiiperatlon of cutting edge 39 withthe cutter 35, as shown in Fig. 5, and to this end said arbor is carried in a swinging block 41, which is pivoted on a shaft 42 extending between ears 43, 43 of base 2. Said arbor is surrounded by a bushing 44 which fits the cylindrical bore of block 41 and is held therein by a set screw 45, it being understood that other bushings of the same outside diameter are furnished, said bushin having different in- .side diameters to fit ifiI'erent sized arbors, for use with coils of different diameters. The arbor 40 is disposed for sliding movement within its bushing, coincident with the rocking movement of the block 41, to effect the cutting operation, and to this end said arbor has secured thereto at its rear projecting end a collar 46, by means of a set screw 47. A link 48, pivotally attached at 49 to said collar, is pivotally connected at 50 to a lever 51, which swings about a pin 52 carried by base 2. A link 53 is .pivotally attached at 54 to lever 51, and at its other end has an elongated slot 55 for the reception of a pin 56 carried by an extension 57 of block 41. to make contact with a limiting abutment 58 of base 2, when the swinging block 41 is returned to horizontal posltion, after each coil cutting operation, by means of springs 59.

The operation of the above described mechanism is as follows:--Assuming the arts to be in the position-illustrated in ig. 2, it will be seen that the cross-head 9 is, at the upper limit of its movement, the 'yoke, 25 havin just been rocked to feedthe coil to the rig t a predetermined distance, whereby the end of said coil surrounds the arbor 40 whose cutting edge 39 is in posi- Said extension 57 is adapted tion over the cutter 35 to sever the coil at the proper point. The initial descent of the cross-head 9v causes the retraction of feeding fingers 22 as above described, said fin ers re-- malning retracted in position to e ect the next feeding operation, which takes place after the 0011 has been cut. As the crosshead 9 continues its descent, the abutment 60 thereon strikes forcibl against the top of .-block 41, rocking sai block downwardly about its shaft 42, and thereby causing thev move the length of slot 55,; so that the arbor 7 does not move longitudinall until ithas com letely severed the coil. hereafter, as the block 41 is further depressed, the pin 56, through link 53 rocks lever 51 to the right, as shown in- Fig. 3, and this move-- ment, through link 48, causes the arbor '40:

g to be retracted slightly, whereupon the severed portion or convolution of the coil carried thereon, is forced off the same by. the end of'bushing as shownat 61, ig. 3 into a suitable receptacle, not shown. I hereafter, the u ward movement of cross-head 9 allows t e springs 59 to return the block 41 to' the position shown in Fig. 2, the extensiong57 being brought against abutment 58 at the end of this movement. At the start of this return movement, the in 56 moves to the left end of slot an thereafter throu 11 links 48 and 53 and lever 51, returns t e arbor to normal position, with its cutting end projecting beyond the bushing 44, as

shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Near the end of return movement of cross-head 9, as hereinbefore described, the coil is again fed for-' ward over the projecting end of the arbor, ready to have another portion of the same cut off at the next cuttin operation.

As clearly shown in ig. .5, the bushing 44 which surrounds the arbor 40 has its projecting end of substantially scroll form, as shown at 62, to conform to the helical or spiral surface presented by the end'of the coil. The end of scroll surface 62, at a point adjacent the stationary cutting device 35, drops off sharply to form an inclined cam surface 63 which is in the path of the free end of the coil, when the latter is moved forward previous to' each cutting operation of the arbor 40. Each feeding movement of the coil brings the free end of the latter into engagement with cam surface '63,. and said free end, moving inwardly on said cam surface, causes the entire coil to be rotated about its axis throulgh a small angle in a clockwise direction, ig. 5. Thus when the arbor 40 is thereafter rocked, as previously described, to cut the coil, the point of sev- -erance is slightly removed,'angularly, from said free-end. In this fashion, each convolution of the coil thus out has its ends spaced slightly apart, as shownat 64, Fig. 6, thereby givlng the desired formation for a spring washer. Obviously, if such a space 64 were 44 and drops by gravity,

said coil, and means for-applying frictional resistance to the movement of a coil held in said bushin' 2. In a machine of the class described, a

stationary block for holding a' coil, means for applying friction. to a coil held therein, means "for imparting; a feeding movement to' a #coil, a movable -block, an arbor 'held therein', meansf.for movin saidblock to bringfsaid arbor' iiito 'laxjia galinement with a: coil held finsaid. stationaryg block, and means- (306 crating with said rbor to sever the end o said coil.', "'3; In ima'chine of the cl stationaryjblock' havin "an/opening therethrough to receive a'ooi means for imparting an intermittent feedin motion to a coil held in' said stationary lock, a movable escribed, .a I

block, an' arbor heldin said movable block and projecting therefrom, meansfor .mov

ing said arbor intoaxial alinement with the opening-insaid stationary block, and means cooperating with said-arbor when the latter is moved out of axial alinement with said opening, to sever the end of said coil.

' i 4. In a machine. of the class described, a

stationary block having a hole therethrough to receive a coil, a swinging block, an arbor carried in said swingin block and having an end projecting therefrom, means for imparting a" swin 'ngmovement to said block to carry said ar or into axial alinement with the opening insaid stationary block, means for imparting a longitudinal movement to a coil held in the-stationary block to carrythe end of the coil over the projecting end of said arbor, andmeans coiiperating with said arbor when said second block 1s swung 1nthe opposite direction, to sever the end of said coil.

. 5. In .a machineof the class described, a stationary block.having an opening therethrough to receive a' coil, a swinging block. an arbor held'therein having an end pro-' jectin "therefrom, means for moving said swinging block to bring the arbor into axial alinement with the opening insaid stationary block, means for imparting a longitudinal movement to a coil held in the stationarybl'ock to carry its end over the projecting end ofthe arbor, and means co operating with said arbor for severing the col 6. In a machine of the class described, a stationary block having an opening therethrough to receive a coil, a swinging block,-

an arbor, carried thereby having a cutting edge at one end, means for normally holding said arbor in axial alinement with the open ing in said stationary block, means for feeding-a coil to carry its end over theend of said arbor, astationary cutter cooperating with the cutting edge of said arbor, and

means for forcibly swinging said arbor to sever the coil.

7. In a machine of the class described, a stationary block having an opening therethrough to receive a coil, aswinging block, an arbor held in said swinging block and having one end projecting therefrom, means for holding said arbor normally in axial alinement with the opening in said station- 'the opening in said stationary block, means for imparting a longitudinal movement to the coil to carry it over the end -of said arbor, a stationary cutter supported beneath the cutting edge of said. arbor, means for forcibly swinging said arbor downward to sever the coil, and means for retracting the arbor to force the severed piece of coil off the arbor.

'9. In a machine of the class described,

' meansffor supporting a coil, a swinging block, an arbor held therein, with its end projecting and provided with a cutting edge, meansfor feeding the coil to carry its end over the projecting end of the arbor, a stationary cutter cooperating. with the cutting edge of the arbor, means for swinging the arbor toward said stationary cutter to sever the coil, and means for removing the severed piece of coil from the a'rbor.

10. In a machine of the'class described, tubular means for supporting a coil by its outer periphery, an arbor, means for moving the end of the coil over the end of the arbor, means for swinging the arbor, and means cooperating with the arbor during its swinging movement to sever the coil.

11. In a machine of the class described, a

ing the arbor from the 'severed,.=1piece, and

coil by swinging movement means for returning the arbor to its normal position.

12. In a machine of the class described,

means for supporting a coil, means for supporting an arbor, with its axis in alinement with the axis of the 0011, means for moving the coil over the end of the arbor, means for severing the coil by swinging movement of' the arbor, with the severed piece held on the arbor, and means for retracting the arbor in its support to remove the severed piece from the arbor, and means for returning the arbor to its normal position.

13. In a machine of the class described, a

support for a coil, an arbor normally held in axial alinement with the axis of the coil, a bushing surrounding said arbor having its end of scroll form constituting a cam surface, means for moving the coil over the end of the arbor, and against the cam shaped end of the bushing, whereby the coil is given a partial rotation around its axis by the contact of the coil with said cam shaped surface.

14. In a machine of the class described, a stationary block having an o ening therethrough to receive a coil, a lock for, an arbor, an arbor held therein, means for moving the coil endwise over the end of said arbor, means for severing the coil, by swinging movement ofthe arbor, and means for removing the severed piece of the coil from the end of the arbor. Dated this 7th day of March, 1917.

FRANK H. SLEEPER. p a f WILLIAM I- I ..BLOUNT. Witnesses: v A. H. WILMOUTH,

GEORGE D. HARTLEY. 

